Catch-free automatic closing umbrella as effected by lotus-shape top ribs

ABSTRACT

A catch-free umbrella includes: a central shaft, a rib assembly pivotally secured to the shaft and an umbrella cloth secured on the rib assembly; with the rib assembly having a plurality of top ribs pivotally secured between an upper notch formed on the shaft and a plurality of stretcher ribs pivotally inclinedly secured to a runner slidably held on the shaft; and the top ribs radially arcuately bent to form a lotus-shape arrangement when opening the umbrella to form an upward force fraction acting on the runner for lifting the runner and the rib assembly without gravitational descending; whereby upon closing of the umbrella by initially lowering the runner, the top ribs of lotus-shape arrangement will serve as closing springs for closing the umbrella automatically.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention is an improvement of the inventor's earliergranted U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,712 entitled “Catch-free Safety Umbrella”(hereinafter called the “prior art”).

[0002] The prior art disclosed an umbrella having the top ribs (21)pulled and bent by a plurality of pulling ropes (24) towards the upperportion of the shaft by a tension force to lift the runner and theumbrella ribs without gravitational descending, thereby eliminating aspring catch for locking the runner when opening the umbrella. However,the installation of the plurality of pulling ropes 24 will increase theproduction cost of the umbrella. Meanwhile, there is lacking ofautomatic closing mechanism provided for automatically closing theumbrella. The umbrella should be manually closed from its opening state,causing inconvenience for the umbrella user.

[0003] The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the conventionalcatch-free umbrella, and invented the present catch-free umbrella whichcan be automatically closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a catch-freeumbrella including: a central shaft, a rib assembly pivotally secured tothe shaft and an umbrella cloth secured on the rib assembly; with therib assembly having a plurality of top ribs pivotally secured between anupper notch formed on the shaft and a plurality of stretcher ribspivotally inclinedly secured to a runner slidably held on the shaft; andthe top ribs radially arcuately bent to form a lotus-shape arrangementwhen opening the umbrella to form an upward force fraction acting on therunner for lifting the runner and the rib assembly without gravitationaldescending; whereby upon closing of the umbrella by initially loweringthe runner, the top ribs of lotus-shape arrangement will serve asclosing springs for closing the umbrella automatically.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is an illustration of the present invention when opened.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention when opened.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of partial rib assembly of thepresent invention as viewed from a lower right direction.

[0008]FIG. 4 is an illustration of the partial rib assembly as viewedfrom an upper left direction.

[0009]FIG. 5 shows another preferred rib assembly of the presentinvention.

[0010]FIG. 6 shows still preferred rib assembly of the presentinvention.

[0011]FIG. 7 shows an open umbrella provided with an umbrella-closingtrigger means in accordance with the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 8 shows a folding umbrella as closed from FIG. 7.

[0013]FIG. 9 shows a folded umbrella following FIG. 8.

[0014]FIG. 10 shows another preferred umbrella-closing trigger meansprovided on the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 11 is a partial sectional drawing as enlarged from FIG. 10.

[0016]FIG. 12 shows a folded umbrella of the present invention from FIG.10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1˜4, the automatic closing umbrella of thepresent invention comprises: a central shaft 1, a rib assembly 2, anumbrella cloth 3 secured on the rib assembly 2, and an umbrella-closingtrigger means 4.

[0018] The rib assembly 2 includes: a plurality of top ribs 21 pivotallysecured to an upper notch 20 formed on a top portion of the shaft 1, aplurality of outer ribs 23 respectively secured to the top ribs 21 by aplurality of joint members 22, and a plurality of stretcher ribs 24 eachpivotally secured between each said joint member 22 and a runner orlower runner 25 slidably held on the shaft 1.

[0019] The embodiment as shown in the drawing figures is a single-foldumbrella. However, the present invention may also be used formultiple-fold umbrella. The top ribs 21 may be made from elastic plasticmaterial, reinforced plastic (e.g., FRP), metals, composites and othersuitable materials having proper elasticity. The shapes and materials ofthe top rib 21 are not limited in the present invention.

[0020] The top ribs 21 are radially arcuately bent or developed as alotus-shape arrangement as shown in FIG. 2 when opening the umbrella tostore their resilience, from the straight or straight-like top ribs whenfolded by closing the umbrella, to thereby serve as “restoring springs”or “closing springs” of an automatic umbrella in order for automaticallyclosing the umbrella. Each top rib 21 may be formed with a leaf springor a resilient spring rod or plate in this invention.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 2˜4, the lotus-shape arrangement of the ribassembly of the present invention when opened includes: a plurality ofinner adapters 21 a each pivotally secured to the upper notch 20 on theshaft 1, each inner adapter 21 a radially divergently connected with apair of top ribs 21 which are outwardly bifurcated to be respectivelyconnected with two joint members 22 neighboring each other, whereby uponopening of the umbrella, the top ribs 21 will be radially arcuately bentor extended to form a lotus-shape configuration about the central shaft1 especially from a top (or bottom) view of the umbrella (FIG. 2) tostore the resilience of the top ribs 21 at opening state of theumbrella.

[0022] In other words, each joint member 22 has its inner end portion221 connected with a pair of top ribs 21 which are bifurcated inwardlyto be respectively connected with two neighboring inner adapters 21 apivotally secured to the upper notch 20 on the shaft 1.

[0023] Each inner adapter 21 a includes a pair of rib holes (orconnection portions) 211 a for respectively inserting therein orconnecting therewith a pair of inner end portions 211 of the two topribs 21. Each joint member 22 has its inner end portion (or two ribholes) 221 respectively inserted therein or connected with two outer endportions 212 of the two top ribs 21.

[0024] Each joint member 22 has its outer end portion 222 connected withan inner end portion 231 of each outer rib 23, and a ball tip 232 formedon an outermost end of each outer rib 23. The outer rib 23 has a crosssection of circular shape having a recess recessed therein as shown inFIGS. 3, 4.

[0025] Each stretcher rib 24 has its outer end portion 242 pivotallyconnected with a middle lug 223 of the joint member 22, and an inner endportion 241 of the stretcher rib 24 pivotally secured to the runner 25.

[0026] Each stretcher rib 24 forms an acute angle A between thestretcher rib 24 and the central shaft 1 from the runner 25 towards thegrip 12 when opening the umbrella. The runner 25 will be limited by astopper pin 11 fixed on an upper portion of the shaft 1 when the runneris upwardly moved.

[0027] When opening the umbrella of the present invention, the runner 25is raised to extend the stretcher ribs 24 to arcuately bend the top ribs21 to form a lotus-shape arrangement and a tension force F is formed bythe top ribs 21, the outer ribs 23 and the umbrella cloth 3 to act uponthe stretcher ribs 24 to produce a force fraction Fr on the runner 25due to the acute angle A defined between each stretcher rib 24 and theshaft 1 below the runner 25, thereby preventing a gravitationaldescending of the runner 25 and the rib assembly 2 and thereby enhancinga stable opening of the umbrella (FIGS. 1, 2) without requiring a springcatch for locking a runner at its opening state as found in aconventional umbrella.

[0028] The lotus-shape top ribs 21 also provide resilience when openedto store the resilience to serve as “closing springs” of an automaticumbrella, whereby upon a slight lowering (or “triggering”) of the runner25 (such a triggering operation will be explained hereinafter withreference to FIGS. 7˜12) to overcome (or release) the upward forcefraction Fr, the top ribs 21 will restore to retract the rib assembly 2to close the umbrella automatically.

[0029] The present invention is superior to the prior art by eliminatingthe pulling ropes 24 of the prior art. The top ribs 21 of the presentinvention when opened, will play double duties, including: providingresilience for producing the force fraction Fr to lift the runner 25 andthe rib assembly 2 to prevent from being gravitationally descended toeliminate the conventional spring catch; and serving as “closingsprings” for quickly automatically closing the umbrella when theumbrella is closed.

[0030] The top ribs 21 of the present invention, when arcuately bent toform the lotus-shape arrangement when opening the umbrella, arebackwardly (or upwardly) limited and slidably guided under the umbrellacloth 3, thereby resulting in a stable opening or closing operation ofthe umbrella for preventing from twisting or deformation of the top ribs21.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 5, each top rib 21 may be formed as a plate orleaf shape having the outer end portions 212 of the two top ribs 21(derived from two neighboring inner adapters 21 a) first fastened by afastening ring 22 a which may be a square or circular ring (not limited)and then firmly connected to an inner end portion 221 of the jointmember 22 by crimping, cladding, pressing or other mechanical joiningmethods. The inner end portion 211 of each top rib 21 may also be firmlyconnected with the connection portion 211 a of each inner adapter 21 aby crimping, cladding, pressing or other mechanical joining methods.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, each top rib 21 may be formed to have a crosssection of semi-circular shape so that the outer end portions 212 of thetwo top ribs 21 (derived from two neighboring inner adapters 21 a) maybe first fastened to be a circular “rod” by a fastening ring 22 a, andthen firmly connected with the joint member 22. The outer rib 23 mayalso be formed by combining two semi-circular rods 23 h or by combiningtwo plate members (not shown) to be connected to the joint member 22.

[0033] The fastening ring 22 a as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 may also beeliminated so that the outer end portions of the two top ribs 21 may bedirectly convergently connected to the joint member 22. The inneradapter 21 a and the inner end portions 211 of the two top ribs 21 maybe integrally formed to be a Y shape rib structure. The outer endportions 212 of the plural top ribs 21 are then connected to the jointmembers 22 and the outer ribs 23 to form a lotus-shape configurationwhen opening the umbrella.

[0034] The umbrella-closing trigger means 4 as shown in FIGS. 7˜9includes: a control button 41 resiliently formed on the grip 12 at alower portion of the central shaft 1, a tension spring 42 normallytensioning the control button 41 upwardly to be ready for downwarddepression on the button 41 when closing the umbrella; a link 43 havinga lower link end 431 secured to the control button 41 and an upper linkend formed as an extension or annular extension or a hook portion 432 tobe normally engaged with a top portion of the runner 25 when opening theumbrella, with the upper link end 432 upwardly limited by a stopper pin11 fixed on an upper portion of the shaft 1; whereby upon closing of theumbrella by depressing the button 41 downwardly to pull the link 43 andthe runner 25 downwardly (with the hook portion 432 downwardly pullingthe runner 25) to overcome the upward force fraction Fr, like triggeringa gun, the spring force of the lotus-shape top ribs 21 will act as“closing springs” to retract the rib assembly 2 to close the umbrellafrom FIG. 7 through FIG. 8 to FIG. 9 for quickly closing the umbrella.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 9, the ball tips 232 formed on the tips of theouter ribs 23 will be collected and received in a hopper 411 divergingupwardly from the control button 41, thereby forming a compact foldedumbrella.

[0036] Another preferred embodiment of the umbrella-closing triggermeans 4 is shown in FIGS. 10˜12, including: a control button 41 aslidably held in the grip 12, a lower latch 42 a resiliently secured ina lower sliding sleeve 42 b slidably held in an interior 10 in a lowerportion of the central shaft 1 to be engaged with a latch hole 13 formedin a lower portion of the shaft 1 to be contacted with the controlbutton 41 a when opening the umbrella, a link 43 a having a lower endsecured with the lower sliding sleeve 42 b and having an upper end ofthe link 43 a secured with an upper sliding block 44 b slidably held inan upper portion of the shaft 1 with an actuating pin 44 a transverselyformed in the upper sliding block 44 b and protruding outwardly throughthe shaft 1 to be slidably held in a pin slot 11 a cut in the shaft 1and to be upwardly limited by an upper end wall 11 b of the slot 11 awhen the actuating pin 44 a is upwardly moved by the runner 25 whenopening the umbrella (FIGS. 10, 11), and a closing initiating spring 45a which is a restoring spring resiliently retained between the uppersliding block 44 b and the upper notch 20 on the shaft 1 to normallyurge the upper sliding block 44 b and the link 43 a downwardly whenclosing the umbrella.

[0037] When opening the umbrella, the force fraction Fr by the tensionforce F effected by the rib assembly 2 and the umbrella cloth 3 willlift the runner 25 and maintain the umbrella at its opening state. Whenclosing the umbrella, the control button 41 a is depressed to disengagethe latch 42 a from the latch hole 13 and the closing initiating spring45 a (a restoring spring) will restore to act the upper sliding block 44b, the pin 44 a, the link 43 a and the lower sliding sleeve 42 bdownwardly to allow the actuating pin 44 a to force the runner 25downwardly to overcome the force fraction Fr to “initiate” the loweringof the runner 25 and the rib assembly 2 pivotally connected to therunner 25. Once the runner 25 is initiated and lowered to “break”(release) the force fraction Fr, the spring force of the lotus-shape topribs 21 will act as “closing springs” to quickly retract the ribassembly for closing the umbrella automatically (FIG. 12).

[0038] When re-opening the umbrella, the runner 25 is lifted to extendthe rib assembly 2 to allow the runner 25 to push the pin 44 a upwardlyto simultaneously pull the upper block 44 b, the link 43 a and the lowersleeve 42 b upwardly until the latch 42 a re-engaged with the latch hole13 as shown in FIG. 11 and the spring 45 a is compressed to store itsspring energy for next initiation for closing the umbrella.

[0039] The umbrella-closing trigger means 4 of the present inventionplays a “trigger” or “initiation” role when closing the umbrella fromits opening state to slightly lower the runner 25 to help the restoringeffect of the lotus-shape top ribs 21 for quickly automatically closingthe umbrella in accordance with the present invention.

[0040] The present invention may be modified without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

[0041] For instance, the lotus-shape top ribs 21 of the presentinvention may also be modified by integrally forming a Y-shape top ribstructure consisting of two top ribs 21 and an outer rib 23 having ajoint portion 22 integrally formed between the two top ribs 21 and theouter rib 23, with the inner end portions 211 of the two top ribs 21directly pivotally secured to the upper notch 20, whereby upon openingof the umbrella, the top ribs 21 will be arcuately bent and extended toform a lotus-shape configuration.

I claim:
 1. An automatic closing umbrella comprising: a central shafthaving a grip formed on a lower portion of said shaft; a rib assemblyincluding a plurality of top ribs pivotally secured to an upper notchformed on said shaft by a plurality of inner adapters, a plurality ofouter ribs connected to said top ribs by a plurality of joint members,and a plurality of stretcher ribs each pivotally connected between eachsaid joint member and a runner slidably held on said shaft, with eachsaid stretcher rib forming an acute angle between said stretcher rib andsaid shaft below said runner when opening the umbrella; an umbrellacloth secured on said rib assembly; each said inner adapter pivotallyconnected to said upper notch on said shaft, having a pair of said topribs inwardly connected to each said inner adapter, with said pair oftop ribs bifurcated divergently from each said inner adapter to beoutwardly connected with two joint members neighboring each other, andcorrespondingly each said joint member having its inner portionconnected with two said top ribs as directed from two said inneradapters neighboring each other, whereby upon opening of the umbrella bylifting said runner and extending said rib assembly, said top ribs willbe radially arcuately bent to form a lotus-shape arrangement of said topribs to produce tension force and store spring energy on said top ribsto act upon said stretcher ribs and said runner to produce an upwardforce fraction on said runner to prevent from a gravitational descendingof the runner and the rib assembly for stably opening the umbrella; andupon an initiative lowering of said runner to overcome and release theforce fraction, the top ribs will restore to retract the rib assembly toclose the umbrella automatically.
 2. An automatic closing umbrellaaccording to claim 1, wherein each said top rib has a cross sectionselected from the shapes of plate shape, semi-circular shape and rodshape, two outer end portions of two said top ribs fastened by afastening ring adjacent to said joint member.
 3. An automatic closingumbrella according to claim 1, wherein each said inner adapter isintegrally formed with said two top ribs.
 4. An automatic closingumbrella according to claim 1 further comprises an umbrella-closingtrigger means formed on said grip and said shaft operativelyinitiatively lowering said runner to overcome and release the upwardforce fraction on said runner to allow said top ribs to restore andclose the umbrella automatically.
 5. An automatic closing umbrellaaccording to claim 4, wherein said umbrella-closing trigger meansincludes: a control button resiliently formed on a grip at a lowerportion of the central shaft, a tension spring normally tensioning thecontrol button upwardly to be ready for downward depression on thebutton when closing the umbrella; a link having a lower link end securedto the control button and an upper link end formed as a hook portion tobe normally engaged with a top portion of the runner when opening theumbrella, with the upper link end upwardly limited by a stopper pinfixed on an upper portion of the shaft.
 6. An automatic closing umbrellaaccording to claim 5, wherein said control button is formed with ahopper diverging upwardly from the control button for receiving aplurality of ball tips formed on a plurality of outer ribs.
 7. Anautomatic closing umbrella according to claim 4, wherein saidumbrella-closing trigger means includes: a control button slidably heldin the grip, a lower latch resiliently secured in a lower sliding sleeveslidably held in an interior in a lower portion of the shaft to beengaged with a latch hole formed in a lower portion of the shaft to becontacted with the control button when opening the umbrella, a linkhaving a lower end secured with the lower sliding sleeve and having anupper end of the link secured with an upper sliding block slidably heldin an upper portion of the shaft with an actuating pin transverselyformed in the upper sliding block and protruding outwardly through theshaft to be slidably held in a pin slot cut in the shaft and to beupwardly limited by an upper end wall of the slot when the actuating pinis upwardly moved by the runner when opening the umbrella, and a closinginitiating spring which is a restoring spring resiliently retainedbetween the upper sliding block and an upper notch on the shaft tonormally urge the upper sliding block and the link downwardly whenclosing the umbrella.
 8. An automatic closing umbrella comprising: acentral shaft having a grip formed on a lower portion of said shaft; arib assembly including a plurality of top ribs pivotally secured to anupper notch formed on said shaft, a plurality of outer ribs connected tosaid top ribs, and a plurality of stretcher ribs each pivotallyconnected between a runner slidably held on said shaft and a jointportion formed between each said outer rib and two said top ribs, witheach said stretcher rib forming an acute angle between said stretcherrib and said shaft below said runner when opening the umbrella; anumbrella cloth secured on said rib assembly; said plurality of top ribsoperatively arcuately bent for forming a lotus-shape arrangement whenopening the umbrella, having every two said top ribs inwardly pivotallyconnected to said upper notch, and every two said top ribs divergingfrom said upper notch to be outwardly connected with one said outer rib.9. An automatic closing umbrella according to claim 8, wherein every twosaid top ribs and one said outer rib are integrally formed as a Y shaperib structure.